Orif ices

An orifice is a geometric opening in the side or base of a tank through which a liquid
flows out.
The j et of water get s contracted after leavi ng the orifice. This section of mini mum
cross section is called the Vena Contracta.
Orifices are classified according to:
 Size – Small or lar ge orifice
 Shape – Circular, Rect angular, Triangular or Trapezoidal
 Shape of the edge – Sharp -edged, Rounded/Bell mouth or Broadcrested
Discharge Through a Small Orif ice
Consider a small orifice in the side of a large reservoir as shown i n the fi gure below:
A

Vena contracta

At point A, pressure = P A = at mospheric (zer o Gauge). If the tank is large, ve locit y v A

is negli gible.
At point B, (j ust outside the tank), pressure = P B = at mospheric hence P B = P A . Let
velocit y v B = v.
Taking the centreline of the orifice as the datum and appl ying Bernoulli’s equation
between points A and B,
2 2
PA vA PB vB
ZA    ZB  
 2g  2g
Putting Z A – Z B = h, v A = 0, v B = v and P A =P B ,
Velocity of the j et,

v  2 gh (Torricelli’s Equation).
Theoretical discharge Q T = Area x Velocit y

= A 2 gh

Actual dischar ge Q A = Cd A 2 gh where,

Cd = Coefficient of di scharge.
Coeff icient of discharge (Cd) :
In practice, the actual dischar ge is considerably less than the theoretical one for two
reasons:
 The velocit y of the j et is less than that gi ven by the velocit y equation due to
frictional resistanc e
 The area of the j et (at the vena contracta) is smaller than the area of the j et

Hydraulic Coef f icients

1. Coefficient of Contraction (C c )
Area of jet at Vena contracta
Cc 
Area of orifice

2. Coefficient of velocit y (C v )
Actual velocity at vena contracta
Cv 
Theoretical velocity
3. Coefficient of dischar ge ( C d )
Actual discharge
Cd  or, C d  C c x C v
Theoretical discharge
4. Coefficient of resistance (C r )
Loss of head in the orifice
Cr 
Head of water
Discharge t hrough a Large Orif ice
Consider a large rectangular orifice in one side o f a tank dischar ging water as shown in
the figure below:

h1
h

h2 dh
d = (h2 – h1)

Let,
 h1 = Hei ght of liquid above the top of the orifice
h2 = Hei ght of liquid above the bottom of the orif ice
b = Breadth of the orifice
d = Depth of flow, and
Cd = Coefficient of dischar ge
Consider an elementary horizontal strip of thickness dh at a dept h h from the water
surface as shown in the figure above.
Theoretical discharge through the strip (dQ) = Area of strip x theor etical velocit y

 b dh 2 g h  b 2 g h1/ 2 dh
Total theoretical discharge through the orifice

 
h2 h2
2
  dQ  b 2 g h dh  b 2 g h2  h1
1/ 2 3/ 2 3/ 2
QT
h1 h1
3
Actual dischar ge through the orifice Q A = Cd x Q T

QA 
2
3
Cd b 2 g h2  h1
3/ 2

3/ 2

Discharge t hrough a Submerged or Drow ned Orif ice
Someti mes an orifice does not dischar ge the liquid freely into the atmosphe re, but into
some vessel containing the liquid. Such an orifice is known as a submer ged or drowned
orifice.
The following are two types of submer ged or ifice:

Wholly drow ned orif ice

h1 = Height of liquid above the top of the orifice

h2 = Height of liquid above the bottom of the orifice
h
h1  h = Difference between the two water levels on either
side of the orifice
h2 b = Breadth of the orifice
Cd = Coefficient of discharge

Area of the orifice (A) = b(h 2 – h 1 )

Theoretical velocity of water through the orifice VT  2 gh

Actual dischar ge through the orifice Q A = Cd x Area of the orifice x Actual velocit y
 = Cd b (h 2 – h 1 ) 2 gh
Note:
Someti mes, the depth of the orifice (d) is gi ven instead of h 1 and h 2 . In such a case,

discharge is gi ven by t he relationship: Q A = Cd b d 2gh

Partially Drow ned Orifice

If the outlet side of an orifice is partly under water, it is known as a partially drowned
or partially submer ged orifice as shown in the figure below.


Treat the lower portion as a drow ned orifice
h1 and the upper portion as an orifice running
h free hence sum the two discharges.
h2


Dischar ge thr ough the drowned portion Q d = Cd b (h 2 – h) 2 gh

and dischar ge through the free portion, Q f 

2
3

Cd b 2 g h 3 / 2  h1
3/ 2

Total discharge ( Q T ) = Q d + Q f .
Selected Examples
1. A 2m wide and 0.6m deep rectangular orifice is fitted on one side o f a reservoir.
If the water level on the upstream side is 1.2m above the top of the opening,
calculate the discharge through the orifice.
Assume the dischar ge coefficient Cd = 0.62 and the orifice dischar ges free on the
downstream side.
Solution:

QA 
2
3
Cd b 2 g h2  h1
3/ 2
3/ 2

1.2m
2 g 1.8 3 / 2  1.2 3 / 2 
2m 2
 x 0.62 x 2
3

0.6m = 4.03 m3/s

3. A lar ge rectangular or ifice 0.4m wide and 0.6m deep placed with the upper edge in
a hori zontal position 0.9m vertically below the water surface in a vertical sidewall
of a large tank is discharging to the at mosphere. Calculate the rate of flow through
the orifice if its discharge coefficient is 0.65.
Solution:
Here, h 1 = 0.9 + 0.6 = 1.5m and h 2 = 0.9m. Substituting as in 1 above, Q = 0.755
m 3 /s
3. A 1.5m wide rectangul ar gate is provided in t he side of a reservoir. If the water
level is 1.5m above the fl oor level of the gat e, calculate the hei ght by which the
gate is to be lifted for a dischar ge of 3.5 m 3 /s through the gate. Assume Cd =
0.62

QA 
2
3
Cd b 2 g h2  h1
3/ 2

3/ 2

1.5m
2
3. 5 
3
x 0.62 x 1.5 2 g 1.5 3 / 2  h1 
3/ 2

1.5
m d 
 2.746 x 1.53 / 2  h1
3/ 2

1.5 3/ 2
 h1
3/ 2

 1.274 from which h 1  0.682m
Hei ght through which the gate is to be lifted d = h 2 – h 1 = 1.5 – 0.681 = 0.818 m
4. A 1m wide drowned ori fice has hei ghts of water from the bottom and top as 2.25m
and 2.0m respecti vel y. Find the discharge through the orifice if the difference in
water levels on both si des of the orifice is 37.5 cm. Coefficient of discharge = 0.62.
Solution:

2m
QA = Cd b (h2 – h1) 2 gh
37.5cm
= 0.62 x 1 (2.25-2) x 2 g x 0.375 m 3 / s
2.25m  = 0.42m3/s

5 A 2m broad and 1m deep rectangular orifice is placed in the side of a large tank.
Water level on one side of the orifice is 4m above its top edge and 0.5m on the
other side below its top edge. Calculate the discharge through the orifice when
the coefficient is 0.625.


4m
2m Solution:
h1 = 4m
0.5 h2 = 4+1 = 5m
m 1m Difference of water levels on both sides,
H = 4+0.5 = 4.5m

Qf 
2
3

Cd b 2 g h 3 / 2  h1
3/ 2

x 0.625 x 2 x 2 g 4.5 3 / 2  4 3 / 2   5.706 m 3 / s
2

3
Q d = Cd b d 2 gh

= 0.625 x 2 x 0.5 2 gx 4.5  5.873m 3 / s

Total discharge ( Q T ) = Q d + Q f . = 5.706  5.873  11.58 m 3 / s